Dual blade implement system

Abstract

An implement system for a machine includes a primary blade and a secondary blade coupled to the primary blade through a linkage mechanism such that the secondary blade is trailing the primary blade. The implement system includes an actuator which controls a movement of the secondary blade. The implement system includes at least one position sensor which generates signals indicative of a position of the primary blade and a position of the secondary blade. The implement system further includes a controller which is in communication with the primary blade, the secondary blade and the position sensor. The controller receives the signals indicative of the position of the primary blade and the position of the secondary blade. The controller operates the actuator to control the movement of the secondary blade based on the position of the primary blade and secondary blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An implement system for a machine working on a ground surface, the implement system comprising:
 a primary blade; 
 a secondary blade coupled to the primary blade through a linkage mechanism wherein the secondary blade is trailing the primary blade; 
 an actuator adapted to control a movement of the secondary blade; 
 at least one position sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position of the primary blade and a position of the secondary blade; and 
 a controller communicably coupled to the primary blade, the secondary blade and the position sensor, the controller configured to:
 receive the signals indicative of the position of the primary blade and the position of the secondary blade; and 
 operate the actuator to control the movement of the secondary blade based on the position of the primary blade and secondary blade. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The implement system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller has an initial geometry and a final geometry of the ground surface stored in an associated memory. 
     
     
       3. The implement system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller further receives an intermediate geometry of the ground surface after the primary blade has altered the initial geometry, and controls the secondary blade based on the intermediate geometry. 
     
     
       4. The implement system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism coupling the secondary blade to the primary blade is a four bar linkage. 
     
     
       5. The implement system of  claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is a GPS sensor. 
     
     
       6. The implement system of  claim 1 , wherein the position sensor includes a first position sensor and a second position sensor, the first position sensor and the second position sensor generate signals indicative of the position of the primary blade and the position of the secondary blade respectively. 
     
     
       7. The implement system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator of the secondary blade is one of a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator. 
     
     
       8. The implement system of  claim 7 , wherein the primary blade performs a coarse cutting action and the secondary blade performs a fine cutting action on the ground surface. 
     
     
       9. A secondary implement system for retrofitting to a machine, the machine having a primary implement system including a primary blade and a primary controller, the secondary implement system comprising:
 a secondary blade coupled to the primary blade through a linkage mechanism, such that the secondary blade is trailing the primary blade; 
 an actuator adapted to control a movement of the secondary blade; 
 at least one position sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position of the secondary blade; and 
 a secondary controller communicably coupled to the primary controller, the secondary blade and the position sensor, the secondary controller configured to:
 receive a signal indicative of a position of the primary blade from the primary controller; 
 receive the signals indicative of the position of the secondary blade from the position sensor; and 
 operate the actuator to control the movement of the secondary blade based on the position of the primary blade and secondary blade. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The secondary implement system of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary controller has an initial geometry and a final geometry of the ground surface stored in an associated memory. 
     
     
       11. The secondary implement system of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary controller further receives an intermediate geometry of the ground surface after the primary blade has altered the initial geometry, and controls the actuator based on the intermediate geometry. 
     
     
       12. The secondary implement system of  claim 9 , wherein the linkage mechanism coupling the secondary blade to the primary blade is a four bar linkage. 
     
     
       13. The secondary implement system of  claim 9 , wherein the position sensor is a GPS sensor. 
     
     
       14. The secondary implement system of  claim 9 , wherein the primary controller receives signals indicative of the position of the first blade by a position sensor. 
     
     
       15. The secondary implement system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator of the secondary blade is one of a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator. 
     
     
       16. The secondary implement system of  claim 15 , wherein the primary blade performs a coarse cutting action and the secondary blade performs a fine cutting action on a ground surface. 
     
     
       17. A method of controlling an implement system for a machine working on a ground surface, the implement system having a primary blade and a secondary blade coupled to the primary blade, the secondary blade trailing the primary blade, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, an initial geometry and a final geometry of the ground surface; 
 receiving, by the controller, a signal indicative of a position of the primary blade; 
 receiving, by the controller, a signal indicative of a position of the secondary blade; 
 operating, through the controller, the primary blade based on the initial geometry and the position of the primary blade; 
 receiving, by the controller, an intermediate geometry of the ground surface, after the primary blade has altered the initial geometry of the ground surface; and 
 operating, through the controller, an actuator to control movement of the secondary blade based on the intermediate geometry of the ground surface, and the position of the secondary blade. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary blade is coupled to the primary blade through a four bar linkage mechanism. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the signals indicative of the position of the primary blade and the position of the secondary blade are generated through a GPS sensor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the primary blade performs a coarse cutting action and the secondary blade performs a fine cutting action on the ground surface.